LTP Greece Field Study Pt. 2

Written for the JUC Friday AM to be sent out on 12/19

The Greece field study has officially wrapped! Since the last episode of Friday AM, we traveled to Thessaloniki, Kavala (Neapolis), Philippi, Berea, Vergina to see Philip II’s tomb, Kalambaka, and Delphi. Along the way, we enjoyed many cappuccinos, cookies, and historical sites throughout Greece. Through it all, what stood out to me most was that walking through the life and times of Paul is best done in community.

The community fostered on a JUC trip is made up of people from diverse backgrounds, ages, genders, and beliefs. It is also marked by friendship, a love for the Lord, and a shared joy for adventure.

For the second half (ish) of the field study, we spent our remaining days in Olympia, Corinth, and Athens. Olympia was astonishing. It is the ancient location of the Olympic Games and the modern-day site where the Olympic torch is lit for opening ceremonies. The scale of the site and its museum is exceptional. There is a boxing ring, a stadium for running events, and temples and altars dedicated to the Greek gods.

In true JUC fashion, a foot race took place, resulting in the winner—our very own JUC study abroad student, Davis—being crowned with olive branches. Honorable mentions go to our second- and third-place finishers, Blake and Aaron, who both had strong races and earned their podium moments.

After Olympia, we made our way to Corinth, stopping for the night in the beautiful and vibrant city of Nafplion, where we were treated to ice cream by Dr. V (stracciatella and pistachio for me—the best combination). In Corinth, we saw the Temple of Apollo, Corinthian columns, and most relevant to the course the bema where Paul testified before Gallio (Acts 18:12–17).

One of the challenges of visiting an archaeological site is that imagination is required to experience its full impact; otherwise, it can feel like just another impressive piece of stone. As Dr. V had us read the narrative of Paul’s testimony, we have to close our eyes and imagine ourselves as Paul. Imagine testifying persistently every Sabbath in the synagogue, only to eventually turn away because of unbelief. Imagine being assured of God’s protection, yet still being physically dragged before the judge and jury of Roman law.

Do you wonder if this is the moment God has been preparing you for? Do you fear physical violence? Do you question whether it was all worth it? Standing at the bottom of the bema—approximately 7.5 feet high—looking up at a well-known, anti-Semitic judge, do these thoughts flash through your mind? To truly understand the depth of Paul’s experience in Corinth, you have to imagine yourself fully in the life and times of Paul and imagine the weight of that moment. As we stood there cold, tired, and worn from multiple early morning wake-ups, it became easier to imagine what Paul must have felt in that moment: exhausted not just in body, but in spirit, standing before real opposition with everything at stake, and yet waiting to see God’s protection. Paul’s posture and example at the bema, upheld by God’s promise and surrounded by community, invites us to stand faithfully even when fear is present.

After climbing a few steps to the top of the bema, you can look down and clearly see the faces of those below. If you flip the perspective and imagine yourself as Gallio, you are looking down on people whose beliefs sound similar enough that you refuse to judge between them; yet you are unknowingly acting on behalf of a Lord you do not believe in. You feel justified in your ruling that Roman law has not been broken as you observe a crowd that has turned against its own. In feeling affirmed in his own authority, Gallio unwittingly fulfills the Lord’s promise to protect Paul.

Our final stop of the field study was Athens. Our hotel sat directly beneath the Acropolis, a stunning sight both at night when illuminated and during the day. In Athens, we explored the Acropolis and the beauty and wonder of the ancient Greek temples, deepened our understanding of Hellenism, and climbed to the top of Mars Hill.

Standing on Mars Hill, with the wind whipping hair and jacket hoods around us, Dr. V closed out the trip by discussing how Paul presented his argument in the same location we were sitting in. Paul began by finding common ground and then challenged his audience using Scripture as his roadmap. It was a powerful ending to a powerful trip. The rest of the day included free time to explore, followed by dinner at a beautiful rooftop restaurant and a closing ceremony.

The Life and Times of Paul Greece field study ended with community, thanksgiving to our teachers and the Lord, and, sadly, goodbyes. As we returned to our “real lives” (though some stayed on to continue traveling Grant and I returned to Thessaloniki to spend Christmas in Greece!), we carried the narrative of Paul home with us, not only in our hearts but also in the stories we now get to tell. Through every connection made on this trip, we see our community of faith growing larger and spreading across the world.